Clasp for jewelry



CLASP FOR JEWELRY March 10, 1931-.

Filed Feb. 25. 1929 j/icaufs figs/51m INVENTOR ZZLOQALQ QN ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 10, 1931 v UNITED-STATES PATENT GFFICE JACQUES IKREISLER, OF NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO JACQUES KREISLER & (10., .A. COPARTNERSHIP COMPOSED OE JACQUES KREISLER, EDWARD I1. STERN, AND TOBIAS STERN, OF NEX YORK, N. Y. i j

CLASP FOR JEWELRY App1ication filed February 28, 1929. Serial No. 342,063.

. justment. 1

The object of my invention is to provide a clasp for wrist bands which in closed position embraces the band and prevents it from further movement without in any way marring the delicate wire mesh of the band.

A further object of the invention is to a provide a clasp of this character which when released and arranged in open position is provided with sufficient open space to permit perfectly free adjustment of the band through the clasp.

I accomplish these objects by means of the arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described, set forth in the claims, and illustratively exemplified. in the accompanying drawings, in which, Figure 1 is a plan clevational view showing the application of my improved clasp; Figure 2 is a substantially longitudinal sectional view through the wrist band and clasp, the section being taken on lines 22 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on lines 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 except that the clasp is shown in open position; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the clasp in open position and the end of the band to be engaged between the sides of the clasp members.

Referring to the drawings, 10 denotes a flexible mesh wrist watch band having its opposite ends provided. with link portions 11 through which the wire bails of the watch ease project. The band 10 according to the present invention consists of two sections, the one thereof terminating at its end opposite the link in a ring 12 which also carries the loop end of the other section designated 13. Of course, it will be understood that I do not mean to limit my invention to the two section construction as it will be readily seen that the band 13 may be lengthened and section 10 dispensed with by providing a link corresponding to link 12 adjacent portion 11. In this way the band would consist of but one section. The section 13 of the band is attached at one. end to the clasp while the other end as stated is threaded through the ring 12, back upon itself and through the clasp and finally ending in the link 11. To adjust the length of the band to accommodate different wrists and to allow removal of the band from the wrist by increasing its length is all effected by the manipulation of the clasp which must be of a design to allow continual operation thereof without damaging the delicate wire mesh of the band.

The end of the band in section 13 which is permanently attached to the clasp comprises a block of metal made up preferably of two cylindrical members 1 1 and 15, the

latter may be solid if desired, and a U-shaped member 16 attached at its closed end to the member 1 1 on its side opposite that occupied by member 15 The end links of the wire mesh are disposed between the arms of the member 16 and made fast by means of solder. The construction at the end of the band in sect-ion 13, which is permanently attached to the clasp, may of course be varied so that the same may be stamped up from solder coated sheet metal and if desired one of the cylindrical members, for example 15, may be dispensed with.

The clasp illustrated particularly in Figure 5, comprises an upperjaw 17 and a lower jaw 18. Both jaws 17 and18 are substantially U-shaped pieces of metal, the upright arms forming the sides. The lower jaw 18 is slightly smaller than the upper j aw 17 sot-hat the sides of the former nest inside the sides of the latter. The jaws 17 and 18 hinge upon each other, the same being; provided with a pintle pin 19 which projects through openings in the extreme ends of the sides. The closed top of the upper jaw 17 is the full length of the jaw itself, but the closed portion forming the under wall of the jaw 18 is cut away sub stantially one half of its length to provide an opening 20 of sufficient'dimensions to freely accommodate a single strand of the band, as illustratively exemplified in Figure 4.

: An assembly of the block at the end of the section 13 and the clasp is made by placing the cylindrical member 14: with its bore in register with the openings in the sides of the nested aws 17 and 18 and then running the pintle pin 19 therethrough, as illustrated in Figure 2.

To release the grip of the clasp on the strand of the band running through the slot or opening 20, the two jaws are separatedat their free ends, the jaws assuming the respective positions shown in Figure l, the block following the upper aw 17 to substantially upright position thereby clearing the space above the opening 20 to permit the flexible band to be drawn therethrough, without the slightest interference being offered by either jaw of the adjacent attached end of the band, and block. When the wrist band has been adjusted to the desired length the upper jaw 17 is closed over the lower jaw 18 with the flexible strand of the band disposed therebetween, as illustrated in Figure 3. The block, of course, having swung about the pintle with the upper jaw 17, is arranged in position to bring the free side of the outer cylindrical member 15 which operates virtu ally as a cam, in position to rest in a transverse groove formed in the mesh of the band on its upper face, while the same or adjacent groove of the under face of the same strand of band is arranged by the pressure of the cam surface of the block toward the inner edge of the cut away portion of the closed under wall of jaw 18. In this position the strand of the band is firmly engaged against movement in either direction relative to the clasp without deforming the wire mesh of the wrist band. and withthe assurance thatoncetl-icclasp has been closed there is no possibility of the same accidently opening up due to strain exerted by pull on opposite ends of the band. Further provision against disengagement of the two jaws from their closed position is made by offsetting small lugs 21 adjacent the outer ends of the outside of the sides of the under jaw 18, as illustrated in Figure 5. lVhen the jaws are closed, the lugs 21 spring the sides of the upper jaw 17 which are provided with slight depressions 22 to accommodate the lugs 21.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A clasp for a flexible mesh wrist watch band, comprising a cam block rigidly attached to one end of the band and provided with a bore and a, cam surface beyond said bore. upper and lower jaws pivoted to the cam block and to each other and provided with means to embrace opposite faces of a portion of the strand, and a pintle projecting through one end of the jaws and through the bore of said block whereby one of the jaws in closed position will engage one side of the strand being pressed against it by the relative position of the cam surface of the block.-

2. A clasp, as claimed in claim 1, in which the jaws are provided with upper and lower U-shaped members arranged with their closed ends forming the upper and under walls, the under wall being cut away to form an opening greater in dimensions than the thickness of the strand, the side walls of the j aws being nested to accommodate the said pintle 'beyond the opening in the under wall, the said cam of the block when the jaws are closed, beingdisposed to prevent movement of the strand between it and the adjacent end of the under wall.

3. A clasp for a wrist watch band, comprising upper and lower hinged jaws, and means for adjustably securing an end of the band thereto, and a cam block rigidly cured to the other end of the band and pivotally mounted between the jaws on the hinged axis of the latter, one of said j aws being provided with an opening to permit free adjustment of the hand through the opening'when the jaws areopen, the edge of the opening being capable of being engaged by one face of the band pressed against it by the relative position of the cam block against the opposite face of the band when the jaws are closed.

4. A clasp for a flexible mesh wrist band, comprising a cam block for attachment to an end of said band, a pair of jaws to clamp over the opposite end of the band, one jaw being cut away to permit free movement of the chain therethrough when the jaws are open, and a pivot projecting through the jaws and cam block, said cam block moving about the pivot when the jaws close to engage and hold the chain between it and the portion of the jaw at the end of the cut out.

In testimony whereof he has atfixed his signature.

JACQUES KREISLER. 

